Sunday March 18, 2012Day 29FinishedSports Direct Arena

Papiss Cisse's third goal in five games took Newcastle to within two points of fifth-placed Chelsea following a 1-0 home win over Norwich. More

Live Commentary

Time:90'

Newcastle United

Norwich City

-Don't forget you can watch highlights of this match from 00:01 on Monday (UK only).

90+4'FULL TIME. Ameobi demands a penalty when Whitbread appears to handle but the whistle blows and Cisse's goal proves enough for the Magpies to move within two points of Chelsea.

90+3'Naughton is booked by Dowd after tangling with Simpson in the final third.

90+1'We will have a minimum of three added minutes.

90'Ameobi rifles a shot wide of the post as Newcastle look to kill the game off in the final minutes.

90'Morison appears to get in behind the defence by Coloccini comes across well to put him off and the striker's shot dribbles at Krul.

89'Hoolahan tries to execute an overhead kick but doesn't quite connect properly. It was a great idea from the Irish midfielder.

88'Hoolahan with a ball into the box but Newcastle clear their lines. Green shirts are now swarming the home penalty area.

87'The chances have dried up for Norwich and they are destined for defeat unless they can conjure up something late on.

85'A third change for Norwich as Pilkington is replaced by Russell Martin. Time running out for thhe visitors now.

84'Stat from Infostrada: "If the score stays like this it will be Newcastle’s fourth 1-0 PL victory this season, their equal-most common result alongside a 2-1 win."

82'Norwich make another chance as playmaker Wes Hoolahan replaces defender Adam Drury. Lambert is going for it now.

80'More sloppy play from Newcastle as Coloccini is pressured into a rushed clearance and kicks the ball out for a throw. Momentum is with Norwich.

79'From the subsequent set-piece, Ba tries to get a shot away but can't strike the ball cleanly.

78'Whitbread goes into the book for a foul, joining team-mate Bennett.

77'In response, Norwich bring on Grant Holt as they search for an equaliser and the striker replaces Howson.

76'That injury forces Guthrie off and Dan Gosling, another midfielder, is on in his place.

74'Guthrie appears to have suffered an injury and is clutching his leg on the pitch.

72'Newcastle go close! Cabaye fires a shot through a crowd of players that Ruddy can only parry, but Ba gets his legs in a mess when trying to turn the ball home.

71'Krul is beginning to waste time - don't tell Robin van Persie.

69'Here is the change and it is goalscorer Cisse who is replaced by Ameobi.

68'Newcastle are getting Shola Amoebi ready on the touchline.

67'Santon scrambles the ball clear from a Norwich corner as Newcastle soak up more pressure.

66'Perch gets a talking to from referee Phil Dowd but there is no card for the Newcastle man. Not sure what he did to attract the official's ire there.

65'Stat from Infostrada: "Norwich have failed to score in three of their previous 14 Premier League away matches this season, one of which was also in the north-east – the 3-0 defeat at Sunderland."

63'Newcastle seek to tighten things up as Ben Arfa is replaced by defender Davide Santon.

62'Bennett goes into the book for a clumsy tackle.

61'Ba has had a quiet afternoon but he unleashes a vicious effort from 25 yards that bends away and wide. Not a bad hit.

60'Norwich have had 55 per cent possession in the second half so far and Newcastle have been pretty ordinary.

58'Coloccini produces a weak backpass to almost allow Howson in and the defender then knocks his opponent to ground as the Norwich man tries to latch on to the loose ball. No foul though, and he was very fortunate not to be punished.

56'Paul Lambert was already celebrating on the Norwich bench, that's how good Krul's save was from Whitbread.

55'Superb save from Krul! Absolutely exceptional from the Dutchman as he flings out an arm to tip a bullet header from Whitbread over the bar following a cross from Bennett. Just brilliant.

54'Krul with a fine save! Pikington runs in behind Simpson and fires in a ferocious effort from a tight angle. Krul is equal to it with a great stop though.

52'Stat from Infostrada: "Norwich have come back to pick up points in four of their nine PL matches this season when behind at half time, winning once."

50'Cisse with another chance! His low effort from 25 yards is clasped at the second attempt by Ruddy as the striker threatens again.

48'Now Howson lifts a shot well, well over the bar as Norwich look to respond. A decent start to the second 45 minutes here at St James' Park.

47'Ben Arfa skews a shot wide of the near post as Newcastle start the second half quickly.

46'KICK OFF!

45+2'HALF TIME. Cisse's goal separates the sides at St James' Park.

45+2'Danny Guthrie is guilty of a messy foul 25 yards from goal and Norwich have a chance deep into stoppage time. However, Fox puts the set-piece well oevr.

45+1'We will have one minute of added time.

45'Chance for Norwich! Bennett knocks Gutierrez to ground and hangs in a deep cross. Pilkington then fells Simpson with a heavy aerial challenge but Surman is allowed to get his shot away and drags it wide of the far post.

43'Howson finds a pocked of space 20 yards from goal and sees his low effort deflected behind for a corner.

41'Cisse denied! The striker runs onto a through ball and tries to lift his shot over Ruddy, only for the onrushing keeper to block the effort. Great football all round.

40'Cabaye is having a fine game in a withdrawn role in midfield today. Cheick Tiote's absence has been compensated for well.

39'Cisse meets a cross from the left with a first-time volley but sees his effort blocked by a Norwich defender. He has been a constant menace in this first half.

38'As things stand, Newcastle will be moving to within two points of Chelsea in fifth, albeit having played a game more.

36'Norwich have failed to carve out a decent chance in a rather poor first-half performance from the Canaries. Mind you, Newcastle haven't exactly set the game alight.

35'Stat from Infostrada: "Norwich have scored only one first half goal in their previous seven PL matches before today."

33'Bennett appears to handle the ball in the box but Newcastle win a corner. Norwich clear from the set-piece.

31'Ruddy makes a mess of the subsequent corner though as he flaps at the delivery, but Norwich go unpunished.

30'Ruddy forced into action! Cabaye curls in a dangerous cross from the left and Ba gets a touch to the ball that appears to be taking it just inside the near post. However, the Norwich keeper brushes the ball with his fingertips and turns it wide. A sensational save.

29'Newcastle break after an accomplished piece of defending from Coloccini but the move loses momentum when Ben Arfa is crowded out.

28'Stat from Opta: "Norwich have only lost two of their last seven Premier League away games but those defeats have come in their last three road trips."

27'Cabaye pings a pass out to Cisse in the right channel but the pass has too much on it and bounces out of play.

26'Unlucky from Norwich as a well-constructed passing move peters out 20 yards from goal. That was better though.

25'This game has been rather short of quality over the past 10 minutes or so.

24'Cisse challenges for an aerial ball after Perch heads the ball on but his arm catches Zak Whitbread in the face and the Norwich defender goes down in pain. No action is taken as Whitbread continues.

22'David Fox puts a high ball over the top of the defence for Morrison and although he can't get a shot away, the ball is worked back and Krul then clasps an effort from 20 yards.

20'Stat from Infostrada: "Newcastle are unbeaten in all eight PL home matches this season when they have scored the opening goal, winning seven times. The only time they failed to win was the 2-2 draw with Wolves after being 2-0 up on February 25."

19'Ben Arfa runs into trouble in his own box when being forced back towards goal but escapes with a quick, short pass to Williamson. The defender is then put under pressure and loses possession 20 yards from goal, allowing Howson to receive a square pass and thump a fine effort just over.

18'The pace of the game has dropped a touch since Cisse's opener but Tim Krul does well to claim a cross from Elliott Bennett as it bounces dangerously towards the near post.

16'Stat from Opta: "74% of the shots on target Newcastle have allowed have been from inside the penalty area, the highest proportion of any team in the top flight."

14'Danny Simpson does well to intercept a cross-field pass destined for Anthony Pilkington. Nice defending from the right back.

13'Cisse now has three goals in four games at St James' Park since joining Newcastle from Freiburg in te January transfer window.

12'GOAL! Newcastle 1-0 Norwich! Cisse with a stunning effort! Jonas Gutierrez delivers a cross from the left and Cisse gets ahead of his marker to flick a volley in at the near post past Ruddy using his shin. It was an unconventional finish but worked perfectly.

10'Unlucky! Cisse plays in Yohan Cabaye to the left of the box and Hatem Ben Arfa tries to flick the ball at goal through his legs, only to narrowly miss the ball.

8'Jonathan Howson is felled by Mike Williamson and Norwich have a free kick in a dangerous position 30 yards from goal...

7'Fabricio Coloccini produces what could kindly be termed an 'ambitious' attempt as he hits one high over the bar from about 25 yards.

6'CIsse puts Adam Drury under pressure and with Ruddy refusing to come off his line to collect the ball the left-back is forced to put it out for a throw.

5'Elliott Ward produces a fine sliding challenge to prevent Newcastle from opening up the Norwich defence. The Canaries look to break but Steve Morison can't get on the end of a long ball over the top.

4'Stat from Opta: "The Canaries are the only team to score three headed goals in a Premier League game this season, when they beat Newcastle 4-2. The last team to score three headers in the same game were Tottenham v West Ham in 2007-08."

3'James Perch takes a nasty blow to the lower leg when sliding in to make a challenge. He hobbles off for treatment but soon returns.

2'What a chance! Cisse beats the offside trap with a lovely run onto a long ball over the top but as he tries to lob the ball over John Ruddy he doesn't get enough height, allowing the keeper to get an outstretched arm to the ball.

1'KICK OFF!

15:58A nice touch as both sets of players applaud in support of Fabrice Muamba, who remains in critical condition after suffering a cardiac arrest when playing for Bolton against Tottenham yesterday.

15:55Let me know what your prediction for the game is on Twitter. Will Cisse get another goal at St James' Park? Will Grant Holt come on and bag one? Follow Tom Adams on Twitter

15:50Looking at the two sides, Newcastle are the far more offensive having chosen to deploy Papiss Demba Cisse alongside Demba Ba in attack. Norwich have Steve Morison in as a lone striker.

15:45Newcastle can move to within two points of fifth-placed Chelsea with a victory this afternoon, while three points would take Norwich joint with Swansea in eighth. Premier League table

15:40Some selected stats from Opta: "Newcastle are unbeaten in their last five Premier League games at St James Park, but have drawn the last two. The Canaries have gone 28 games away from home without a Premier league clean sheet in the Premier League dating back to October 2004."

15:35Paul Lambert (Norwich City): "No-one probably expects us to go up there and win. The lads are looking forward to it, it’s a massive crowd. We’ve been to big grounds before and we’re not going to be frightened by it, that is for sure. It is a really passionate football crowd. They will get right behind their team and we have to try and turn that right around."

15:30Alan Pardew (Newcastle United): "We need to win four or five games from 10 to get into Europe. That will look harder if we don't win..that target will be harder."

15:25Norwich midfielder Jonny Howson is available again after illness. Defenders Daniel Ayala (hamstring) and Marc Tierney (groin) are still recovering full match fitness. Striker James Vaughan (hamstring) is another still not available for first-team selection.

15:15Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Premier League clash between two of this season's surprise packages, Newcastle United taking on Norwich City at the artist formerly known as St James' Park. Kick-off at 4pm.

Summary

90'Morison appears to get in behind the defence by Coloccini comes across well to put him off and the striker's shot dribbles at Krul.

89'Hoolahan tries to execute an overhead kick but doesn't quite connect properly. It was a great idea from the Irish midfielder.

72'Newcastle go close! Cabaye fires a shot through a crowd of players that Ruddy can only parry, but Ba gets his legs in a mess when trying to turn the ball home.

58'Coloccini produces a weak backpass to almost allow Howson in and the defender then knocks his opponent to ground as the Norwich man tries to latch on to the loose ball. No foul though, and he was very fortunate not to be punished.

55'Superb save from Krul! Absolutely exceptional from the Dutchman as he flings out an arm to tip a bullet header from Whitbread over the bar following a cross from Bennett. Just brilliant.

54'Krul with a fine save! Pikington runs in behind Simpson and fires in a ferocious effort from a tight angle. Krul is equal to it with a great stop though.

50'Cisse with another chance! His low effort from 25 yards is clasped at the second attempt by Ruddy as the striker threatens again.

45'Chance for Norwich! Bennett knocks Gutierrez to ground and hangs in a deep cross. Pilkington then fells Simpson with a heavy aerial challenge but Surman is allowed to get his shot away and drags it wide of the far post.

41'Cisse denied! The striker runs onto a through ball and tries to lift his shot over Ruddy, only for the onrushing keeper to block the effort. Great football all round.

39'Cisse meets a cross from the left with a first-time volley but sees his effort blocked by a Norwich defender. He has been a constant menace in this first half.

30'Ruddy forced into action! Cabaye curls in a dangerous cross from the left and Ba gets a touch to the ball that appears to be taking it just inside the near post. However, the Norwich keeper brushes the ball with his fingertips and turns it wide. A sensational save.

19'Ben Arfa runs into trouble in his own box when being forced back towards goal but escapes with a quick, short pass to Williamson. The defender is then put under pressure and loses possession 20 yards from goal, allowing Howson to receive a square pass and thump a fine effort just over.

12'GOAL! Newcastle 1-0 Norwich! Cisse with a stunning effort! Jonas Gutierrez delivers a cross from the left and Cisse gets ahead of his marker to flick a volley in at the near post past Ruddy using his shin. It was an unconventional finish but worked perfectly.

10'Unlucky! Cisse plays in Yohan Cabaye to the left of the box and Hatem Ben Arfa tries to flick the ball at goal through his legs, only to narrowly miss the ball.

2'What a chance! Cisse beats the offside trap with a lovely run onto a long ball over the top but as he tries to lob the ball over John Ruddy he doesn't get enough height, allowing the keeper to get an outstretched arm to the ball.